154 THE DOMESTIC CAT. 



food, she catches and brings to them mice and 

 small birds. If she suspects that the male has dis- 

 covered her retreat, or if she is otherwise disturb- 

 ed,- she will carry them off, one by one, in her 

 mouth, and lodge them in some other place where 

 she is not so liable to be interrupted. 



The manner in which the Cat transports her 

 kittens from one plade tp another, is very pleasing. 

 She first licks them on the neck, as if to prepare 

 them for being seized by that part. She then lays 

 hold with her mouth, so hard as to prevent them 

 from falling out, and yet not so as to give them pain. 

 Thus charged with her important burthen, she 

 runs off with it in her mouth, at the same time 

 elevating her head in such a manner as, in her pro- 

 gress, not to beat it against the ground. The little 

 creature is so motionless in her mouth, as to ap- 

 pear exactly as if it was dead. The mother 

 having found a convenient place, lays it down, 

 forms for it a comfortable bed, and again licks it 

 on the neck ; she then leaves it, to fetch in the 

 same manner, one by one, the remainder of her 

 litter. 



There are few animals that exhibit more tender- 

 ness towards their offspring than Cats. When de- 

 prived of these, they have often been known to 

 suckle and rear the deserted offspring of other 

 animals. Instances have occurred of their thus 

 bringing up young Hares, Rats, Squirrels, and 



Dogs, 



